Our 11th reunion has come and gone, but like the rest not forgotten. All the hard work, time and effort paid off in another successful reunion. First we have to thank LaDonna Bradshaw for volunteering to take over the job of reunion registration coordinator and all the headaches that go with it. I’m sure she must have said to herself, what did I get myself into. Well you can relax now that it is over, you had a great team working with you and I believe everything went smoothly. You and your team did a great job, congratulations to one and all.
In spite of the bad economy, gas prices, expensive airfares and so forth, the attendance was still fairly good. Our members, although disappointed, did not complain too much about not being able to go below decks of our beloved ship. I believe having the chance to see the ship and walk her decks once again and tell stories to whoever would listed about their time aboard, took the edge off of not being able to go inside.
As for the sea stories room, boy do those stories get better with each reunion. A message to our former crewmembers who have not attended any of our reunions, please come to our next one, we desperately need some new sea stories.
On behalf of the Association, thank you Nauticus for the reception you gave us at the Nauticus Center. It was a nice get-together of your staff and our members. Also thank you for your Memorial to Lil, it was much appreciated by the daughters of the Menta family and their families.
See you in OCONOMOWOC, WISCONSIN in 2010
Photo credits: Bob Simpson #10 to #12 #25 #68 to #79 #86 to
#92 #190
Ed Lowe #93 Andy Bethel #94 AJ Bethel #95 Jimmy Paulk
#182 #199 #200
Dom Menta 186 photos.
Tom Bradshaw #211 to #244 Joan Romatowski #245 to #248
Sorry, no additional photos can be added to this page.
1 Monday Aug. 25th, pre reunion meetings |
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5 Final meeting of the day.. Everything is in place for the start of the reunion tomorrow morning. |
6 Tom Varetoni signing in. Tuesday morning, they start coming in to pick up their registration packets, sign the memorial sheets for placing the flower in the wreath and checking out our Ship's Store for bargains. |
7 Picking up and signing for registration packet. |
8 Joyce & Norman Nottingham, talking to Martin Sipple |
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10 Peg Simpson, Carol Sippel and Jo Lewis |
11 Display of future reunion sights |
12 One of the many silent auction items |
13 Registration, Memorial signup, Silent Auction signup, Ship's Store, 2010 Reunion Sights information, 2009 Cruise information and signup and raffle ticket purchases were all in this one big room. |
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15 Ed Gavin and Kim Lambrecht, Event Sales Manager for the Marriott. |
16 Ranzy Weston & Don Falkenberg |
17 Pam & Paul Zentmyer, distributed the pre-ordered reunion Tee shirts. |
18 Ranzy Weston making a sale. |
19 Arlene & Stan Vyhlidal, checking the names of our deceased. |
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21 Bob & Ginny Aldrich signing in. |
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23 Time to put up our banner. |
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25 Rare photo of me (Dom) while I was talking to Bill Walther |
26 Our dollar per item breakfast. L to R: Norman & Pauline Christensen, Gloria Flynn, James Gleason and James Flynn |
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28 L to R: Avram & Maxine Cohen, Vincent Guariglia & Rose Pecci |
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30 Janet & Francis Pearsall |
31 Breakfast spread. |
32 Left: Andrew Yelapi, Lin & Marge Daggett |
33 Ruth & Bob Laese |
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35 Yes George, you have to pay. |
36 Jim & Mary Ellen Murray |
37 Bob & Peg Simpson Carol & Martin Sippel |
38 Gwen & George Welch |
39 Sorry guys, I didn't mean to interrupt your sea stories. |
40 Robert and Betty Jenkins |
41 Nancy & Harley Nelson, Gene & Deanna |
42 Bargains galore |
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44 Arlene & Stan Vyhlidal |
45 Richard Mulvey & Pete Cross |
46 George Nichols |
47 Tom Bradshaw & Dave Patrykus |
48 Going on tours |
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52 Standing Werner & Arlene Bloomfield |
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56 Raymond & Lillian Borzon. Martin Sippel at left. |
57 Checking in |
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59 Then picking up their registration packets. |
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62 Frank Romatowski & Bill Henson |
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68 Spirit of Norfolk |
69 Boarding the Spirit |
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72 L to R; Chris & Joe D'Angelo Thurman Ryan |
73 Claire & Dick Hamann |
74 Peg Simpson |
75 Marlis & Dave Patrykus |
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77 RAF Kinloss |
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80 Bill Lewis, Phyliss Gales, Audry Miller, Dick & Claire Hamann |
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82 Dave Murphy and daughters |
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84 Claire, Dick wanted this picture. |
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86 John & Rose Mary Swainson |
87 Peg Simpson |
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94 Procedure:1- Fill them, 2-drink them dry and then 3- stack them. |
95 Then they all fall down. What a shame, now you have to start all over again, starting at No.1. |
96 Breakfast time again. |
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98 What a beautiful site. |
99 Memories |
100 What time does this ship leave? |
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103 Martin Sippel left, Curtis & Pat Twiford |
104 L to R: Bob Zimmerman, Bob Raines and Dead Giroux |
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106 Marion & Marshall Andrews |
107 Tom Bradshaw and our 94 year old shipmate, James Paul Campbell |
108 Paul being interviewed. |
109 L to R: Mike Rigdon, Dick & Claire Hamann, Dempsey (Clem) Clemons, Janice & Frank Perry Judy Determan |
110 L to R: Ernie & Elizabeth Peterson, Bud & Vicki Fourney Jean Ford & Jim Backus |
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112 Richard & Ernestine Allen |
113 The two girls are the granddaughters of Jo & Bill Lewis. Brandi & Nicole Lewis. The Marine is Charles Brickett |
114 Joyce & Charles Brickett and Bill Lewis |
115 L to R: Don & Janice Buckius, Martin & Carol Sippel and Helen Gingrich |
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118 Bobbye & Henry Grochowski |
119 Gene & Deanna Pifer Harley & Nancy Nelson |
120 L to R Ed & Shirley Pienta Jim & Barbara Gleason |
121 Pat & Curtis Twiford |
122 L To R: Raymond Dorty, Frank & Norma Wilt, Decie Dorty |
123 L to R Donna & William Waller, Spurgeon & Joan Stanard, Sylvia (standing) & George Tully |
124 L to R: Patti & Glenn Foster Connie & Max Johnson |
125 Tom Bradshaw getting the Business Meeting underway. |
126 A few words from past president, Dave Patrykus |
127 Recognizing Rita & Jim Janz. Jim was the first administrator when the association first started. |
128 Gene Biesecker, listening to some kind words about his past involvement with the vets at Portsmouth Naval Hospital |
129 Paul Zentmyer |
130 Tom Bradshaw introducing Ranzy Weston as our 2nd VP |
131 Bill Lewis, getting our Memorial Service started. |
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135 Invocation by Chaplain, Deacon R. Simpson. |
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155 Banquet time |
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159 Ivan & Joyce Wheland |
160 Strolling Silver Strings played beautiful music prior to and during dinner. |
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162 Marion & Marshall |
163 Richard & Ernestine Allen |
164 John & Helen Cummisk |
165 Esther & Raymond Bruens |
166 Dempsey Clemons & Mike Rigdon |
167 Carol & Martin Sippel |
168 Peg & Bob Simpson |
169 Dick & Claire Hamann |
170 Catherine & James Nicholson |
171 Joyce & Walt Newman |
172 Brigadier General William D. Beydler and wife, Kim |
173 Jerry & Karen Blesch |
174 Patrick & Dee Anna Blesch |
175 Don Falkenberg with daughter Kalynn and son, Timothy |
176 L to R: Son of Glenn & Patti Foster Paul & Pam Zentmyer |
177 L to R: Flo Bethel Dom Menta's grandchildren, AJ, Meghan, Jessi and Joe |
178 Dom's daughters. Debbie & Jack Loftus Donna & Andy Bethel |
179 Menelaos & Joan Aliapoulios |
180 John Picuri & Guest |
181 Right: Raymond & Mary Hunt |
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183 Jimmy & Paula Paulk |
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187 Invocation Deacon Robert Simpson |
188 Ed Gavin reading IN MEMORY OF OUR FALLEN COMRADES |
189 Table set for two, in Memory of our Fallen Comrades. |
190 Wreath in Honor of our deceased crewmembers and deceased wives . |
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196 Dee Anna Blesch and John Fox |
197 Three musketeers Ed Lowe, Steve Largent and Tom Bradshaw |
198 You guys were told not to drink the water. Jack Kavanaugh & Jerry Blesch |
199 Our President and the First Lady Tom & LaDonna Bradshaw |
200 Dom Menta & Jimmy Paulk |
201 L to R: Karen Blesch, Jimmy & Paula Paulk, Jerry Blesch |
202 Brian Fair, Development Director, Nauticus. |
203 Brig. Gen. W. D. Beydler |
204 Swearing in of our Association Officers. L to R: Tom Bradshaw, President John Fox, Treasurer Dick Hamann, Secretary Ranzy Weston, 2nd VP Bill Ridings, VP |
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206 Following 3 photos show deserving awards being presented to: Clair & Dick Hamann |
207 Carol & Marty Sippel |
208 Accepting for Jo Lewis is husband, Bill Lewis |
209 Winner of the Quilt, Michael Rosenblatt |
210 Benediction Deacon, Robert Simpson |
211 Photos #211 to #244 sent in by Tom Bradshaw. The Bradshaw Van is loaded and ready for the trip to Norfolk. |
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213 John Fox, our Treasure, sitting in the corner with that look on his face, don't look to me to pay the check. |
214 LaDonna and Dom Menta, I have no idea what they were talking about. |
215 LaDonna and Tom Bradshaw, notice how calm they look on the first day. |
216 Time to do what we get paid? to do. |
217 L to R: LaDonna Bradshaw, Jane Gavin and Kim Lambrecht, Event Sales Manager for the Marriott. |
218 Avram & Maxine Cohen, |
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220 Norman & Joyce Nottingham, |
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222 Eugene Gingrich, Andy Barkocy |
223 Jo & Bill Lewis |
224 Jane & Nancy Backer, from Phillips Tours. |
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227 Martin Sippel, Bill Lewis and Pam Zentmyer |
228 L to R: Jane Gavin, Anthony DiFilippo, President and CEO of Norfolk Convention and Visitors Bureau, Jennifer MacGregor of the NVCB and Ed Gavin |
229 Ken Martin |
230 Here come the reunion attendees |
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232 Tom Varetoni and Dave Patrykus |
233 Golf time. Jerry Bleach and son, Patrick |
234 Bill Ridings, |
235 Seated L to R: Steve Largent and Eddie Lowe |
236 Memorial Service |
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243 Brining the wreath to the bow of the Wisconsin. |
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245 Photos #245 to #248 sent in by Joan Romatowski. L to R: Joe Determan, Frank Perry and Frank Romatowski. |
246 L to R: Otto Gartman, John Marko, Frank Perry. |
247 L to R: Joe Determan, Bill Henson, Art Olson, Frank Romatowski, Bob Laese
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248 "M" Division |
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